‘Big and small clients treated alike’:

Top Printers makes headway

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

M.Y.M. Sameer

When people try to get things done in various companies, at times they are turned away causing disappointment to the client due to various reasons.

This may be perhaps that the particular task is too small or too big for them. However, some companies give the highest priority to satisfy customers and their customers are never turned away.

Top Printers, an emerging company in the world of printing is dedicated to serve the customer in every aspect of printing, from designing to delivery of the particular job with complete customer satisfaction.

Managing Director M.Y.M Sameer, a Gold Award winner at the Achiever of Industrial Excellence 2009 award ceremony organized by the Ceylon National Chamber of Industries (CNCI) never disappointed his customers for whatever reason.

He was interviewed by Daily News Business.

Financial difficulties

Sameer was born in Colombo as the third in a family of four children. He had his education at Wesley College, Colombo.

“I wanted to pursue higher studies after my Advanced Level examination but it was not possible due to financial difficulties. So I found a part- time job in a textile shop in Pettah and did my higher studies part-time”, he said.

While working in the shop I saw many other business people looking for a printer to print their bill books, labels and other printing material.

Being a creative person I realized that I can make use of this opportunity and set up a small printing shop in 1999 with a small A3 size printing machine to serve the people who were in need of fast and cost effective quality printing, with an investment of Rs 300,000.

Mass industry

After getting into the business of printing, he found that it was a mass industry with many opportunities and always needed upgrading to satisfy demanding customers.

“I learnt new things every day. I catered to every small and big customer and have never turned away any of my customers. Even a client who came to print 250 visiting cards was treated equally as someone coming with a big order.

This is because I felt that the person who came with a small order might bring bigger orders one day if he was satisfied with my work. I knew that if I sent him away he would never come back with another order, That is one of the secrets behind my success, he said.

One-stop facility

Printing in progress - Picture by Saliya Rupasinghe

Today Top Printers is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment catering to high quality printing requirements of its customers.

The company has the technology, infrastructure and a skilled workforce of 40 to meet the requirements from prepress printing to finishing and binding It is a one-stop facility where a customer can get their printing and related requirements attended to under one roof.

His product range includes nearly 200 items visiting cards, bill books, brochures, magazines and packaging. His clients include several State Banks, State organizations, Timex Garments, Brandix Hangers and Cosco Polymer.

Significant achievement

Another significant achievement is that he exports his printing products to several companies in the Maldives and earns foreign exchange for the country. “The three things I believe in this industry are quality, speed and customer satisfaction”, he said.

Within a short period of time Sameer bagged top honours in the printing field such as Collates 2008 and won the all-island first prize in the category of Best Brochures, Folders and Leaflets and for the Best newsletters in 2006/2007.

In 2007 he was ranked 38th in the list of best performers and this year he became the third best printer in the island.

He did not give up his higher education despite financial problems and obtained a Diploma in the Management and Supervision of offset printing from the Sri Lanka Institute of Printing. His motto is ‘We are simple -yet we stand tall and lead’.